Ruth Warrick Loves Her Role As `Amc' Bigwig

TV NEWS

July 9, 1995|By LYNDA HIRSCH and Special to the Sun-Sentinel

While All My Children's Phoebe Tyler may spend her time meddling and playing bridge, Ruth Warrick, who has played the Pine Valley bigwig for 25 years, has no time for either. Up to speed since she broke her hip last year, Warrick has her life brimming with activities.

"When I first broke my hip, I was fearful I would never walk again," admits the 78-year-old Warrick. "That coupled with not working had me very depressed."In the 20-plus years we have know Warrick, the word "depressed" has never been in her vocabulary. Just as soon as it pops in, the word is gone. "Now, I feel fabulous - and I have for the last two months."

Warrick has just wrapped a long day at the studio. "Carol Burnett is on the show. She plays my husband's illegitimate daughter. Because of Carol's schedule, we had to do all our scenes in one day. That's not easy, you know. Five days' worth of scenes in one day! But there's no reason to complain - it has worked out wonderfully for me," she laughs.

"Now I have a few days off so that I can be one of the guests at Princess Diana's hospital charities ball."Others on the 200-plus celebrity guest list are Whitney Houston, Gregory Peck, Tony Quinn and Michael Bolton.

Warrick credits Orson Welles with her view of life. "I played his wife in the film Citizen Kane. One day, on the set, he told me, `Do what you want to with your life, not what others want you to do. Don't worry about making a million dollars. If you make a million doing something you hate, you will only spend it on doctors.' He was right."

Warrick also credits Welles with her decision to have children. "I have three children. When I first began acting, it was often thought that artists should not be parents. Orson thought that was bunk. He said we need artistic gene pools. Once again, he was right."

Warrick does not think the results of the most recent elections were right. "I was with Mario Cuomo during so much of this last campaign for governor of New York, I could not believe what was happening that night. It was tragic for me."

But Warrick, who always looks ahead, said the next day the sun shone. "I was one of 10 people invited to lunch with Jimmy Carter. He is such a kind man. His goodness shines from within. It just makes you feel good to be in his presence."

Also on the wonderful front is Warrick's news that she has just signed a two-year contract with All My Children. "I'm thrilled," says Warrick. "I love Phoebe. I think the audience does, too. I must admit, she has mellowed a bit, which is fine. But I still love her the most when she acts up. Phoebe was not meant to be mild."